Pretoria – Condolences continued to pour in from all corners of the country on Sunday as news of the passing away of Public Service and Administration Minister Collins Chabane spread.

The Minister and his two protectors - Sgt Lesiba Sekele and Sgt Lawrence Lentsoane - died in a car accident near Polokwane in the early hours of Sunday .

Minister Chabane’s name trended on social media sites for most of the day, following a statement from the Presidency confirming that he had passed.

Many have described Minister Chabane as a dedicated public servant.

President Jacob Zuma said he was “an outstanding cadre of our liberation struggle and a competent, accomplished and dependable member of my Cabinet”.

The African National Congress said his untimely death had created a void in the organisation and in government.

The South African Communist Party (SACP) said it was deeply saddened by the news of Minister Chabane’s death.

SACP General Secretary Blade Nzimande said: “We also send our condolences and message of solidarity to our long standing ally the ANC, to the rest of our liberation movement and Alliance, and to the country as a whole.

“Comrade Collins Chabane, who had sharp analytical skills and was also an artist, will be sorely missed,” said Nzimande.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) called the Minister’s death tragic and further extended condolences to the Chabane family, his friends, comrades in the ANC and its alliance partners and all South Africans.

“His passing is a huge loss to our movement. COSATU leaders and members at many levels interacted with him over decades and always found him to be friendly, helpful constructive and positive, particularly in the area of making policy and monitoring its implementation.

“His presence will be missed for years to come and we must never forget the debt we owe him,” said COSATU.

Ekurhuleni Executive Mayor, Mondli Gungubele, added his voice to those who conveyed condolences to the friends and family of Minister Chabane.